Meenakshi Amma, Padmashree awardee and renowned Kalarippayattu performer and instructor with employees of Kochi metro in the city on Wednesday.

Feeding room, napkin vending machine to be inaugurated on the premises
The Edappally station of Kochi metro will turn into an all-women station on Thursday as part of International Women’s Day celebrations by Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL).

A.P.M. Mohammed Hanish, managing director, KMRL, will inaugurate facilities arranged for women at the Edappally station, including a feeding room and a napkin vending machine.

The KMRL began the celebration of Women’s Day programmes on Wednesday with a talk by Meenakshi Amma, Padmashree awardee and renowned Kalarippayattu performer and teacher. She addressed the employees of the KMRL and spoke on the topic “women and self-defence”. She also demonstrated some moves of Kalarippayattu.

The KMRL claims to be the most women-friendly metro in the country, employing the most number of women in the system, including Kudumbasree members.

Unlike in other Indian metros, station activities such as ticketing, customer relations and housekeeping are done by women.

In the KMRL too, around 30% of the staff are women.

Award for staffer

As part of the International Women’s Day celebrations, Indian Medical Association, Kochi branch; National Health Mission; Bhumika and the District General Hospital will organise a function to honour the best woman employee in hospitals with cash award and a certificate. The event will be inaugurated by City Police commissioner M. P. Dinesh and his wife Nirmala Dinesh at the General Hospital conference hall. Films on women empowerment will be screened on Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 1.30 p.m.